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Mikhail Tal, the 'magician from Riga,' was the greatest attacking World Champion of them all, and this enchanting autobiography chronicles his extraordinary career with charm and humor. Dazzling games are interspersed throughout with anecdotes and witty self-interviews, and in typically objective fashion he related both the downs and ups of his encounters. An inveterate smoker and drinker, Tal's life on the circuit was punctuated by bouts in the hospital with kidney problems, but nothing could dull his love for chess and his sheer genius on the chessboard. His illustrious tournament record, up to his death in 1992, is included here in full, along with 100 complete games and nearly as many positions. Tal's annotations in this book are a world apart from ordinary games collections. No reader could fail to be swept along by his passion and vitality as he sets the scene for an encounter and then recounts every psychological twist and turn.
An introduction to the moves, strategies, and philosophy of chess, with clear explanations of the games fundamentals, instructive examples, question-and-answer sections, sample games, and psychological hints.
A complete overview of proven chess principles that teaches readers how to deploy their pieces using the right moves at the right time to build small advantages into effective, long-range strategies.
International Master Colin Crouch demonstrates how Magnus Carlsen was able to elevate his play to a stratospheric level and become the highest-rated chess player in the history of the game, breaking Garry Kasparov's record.
In Discovering Chess Openings John Emms argues that studying openings doesn't have to be hard work at all -- indeed, it can be great fun! The key to successful opening play is the understanding of the basic principles, and here the reader is guided through the most crucial themes: swift development, central control, and king safety.
The essential guide to the use of tactics, the watchdogs of strategy that take advantage of short-term opportunities to trap or ambush an opponent and change the course of a game in a single move.
In this book the author assembles the problems and studies that are most effective to improve tactical ability. A player who works their way through this book will undoubtedly see improvements in their own play
The legendary Mikhail Tal was the finest ever exponent of attacking chess. His all-out sacrificial style took him all the way to the World Championship title. Dogged by ill-health, Tal's reign was a short one, and he was never able to regain his crown, but Tal remained an outstanding player right up to his death in 1992. His departure has taken away one of the chess world's most charismatic figures; a player who excited chess passions wherever he went. In this, his last book, written together with Russian sports journalist Iakov Damsky, Tal shows how to unleash devastating attacks in all kinds of positions.
Winning Chess Openings will help readers develop a solid understanding of opening principles that can be applied to every game they play--without having to memorize a dizzying array of tedious and lengthy opening lines.
Jose Capablanca's classic instructional manual 'Chess Fundamentals' first appeared in 1921, the year he defeated Emanuel Lasker for the world championship title. This handbook is packed with timeless advice on different aspects of practical play and illustrated by Capablanca's own games. Topics covered include first principles, planning, the initiative, endgame strategy, and much more. After capturing the world championship, Jose Capablanca was for a time regarded as practically invincible. However, after his upset defeat by Alexander Alekhine in 1927, Capablanca was never able to obtain a revenge match for the world title, though he remained one of the leading players during the 1930s. (5 2/4' X 8 1/4', 121 pages, illustrations)
This book examines all aspects of the highly complex Sveshnikov Variation and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis.
Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov: Part III is the final volume in a major three-volume series made unique by the fact that it records the greatest chess battles played by the greatest chessplayer of all-time. Kasparov's series of historical volumes have received great critical and public acclaim for their rigorous analysis and comprehensive detail regarding the developments in chess that occurred both on and off the board. The first two volumes in this series saw Kasparov emerging as a huge talent, toppling his great rival Anatoly Karpov and then defending the World Championship title on three occasions. This third volume focuses on the final 12 years of Kasparov's career up until his retirement from full-time chess in 2005. This period witnessed three further World Championship matches: wins against Short (London 1993) and Anand (New York 1995) before the loss against Kramnik (London 2000) which finally ended Kasparov's 15-year tenure as world champion. This period also saw Kasparov achieve a colossal 2851 rating (1999), a record which stood until 2013. Despite loss of the World Championship, Kasparov continued to be ranked as the world number one and dominated the elite tournament circuit. He won the Linares super-tournament for four consecutive years (1999-2002) with the fourth of these victories in 2002 concluding an unprecedented run of ten straight wins in the world's elite events (Linares 4, Wijk aan Zee 3, Sarajevo 2 and Astana 1). The games in this volume feature many masterpieces of controlled aggression played against the world's absolute best.
Lasker was, essentially, a complete chessplayer and his games feel thoroughly modern. Indeed many contemporary elite players (the most obvious one being the current world champion Magnus Carlsen) exhibit a very similar style.
Everyman Chess''s Starting Out series has firmly established itself as the leading guide to studying openings for up-and-coming players. These books are distinguished by their easy-to-read layout, the lucid explanations of the fundamentals, and the abundance of notes, tips and warnings to help the reader absorb vital ideas. Now brought together in one volume are...Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern by Joe Gallagher. The very closely linked Pirc and Modern Defences are dynamic systems that are favoured by ambitious, counter-attacking players. Black plays very much in a hypermodern fashion, allowing White to build an unopposed pawn centre with the idea of plotting its eventual downfall. In this revolutionary book, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Pirc/Modern and its numerous variations. In this revolutionary book, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Pirc/Modern and its numerous variations. Starting Out: The Modern by Nigel Davies.In this book, Davies studies the Modern by going back to basics, introducing the key moves and ideas, and taking care to explain the reasoning behind them - something that has often been neglected or taken for granted. The Modern Defence is a dynamic, ambitious and universal opening, one that can be used against virtually every system White can play. Black''s provocative strategy is based upon allowing White to construct an imposing pawn centre in the anticipation that a well-timed strike will bring about its downfall. Both sides can play for high rewards, albeit at some risk: White can hope to succeed with a direct attack or to squash Black with a space advantage, while Black will aim to destroy White''s centre and mop up the remains. All in all this can lead to intriguing battles in which one slip from either side is often fatal..
James Vigus examines the most important and instructive Pirc games in recent years. This book is packed with key new ideas and critical analysis.
International Master Kevin Goh Wei Ming examines the most theoretically important and instructive games of recent years in the popular 6 Bg5 Sicilian Najdorf, highlighting the main developments and novelties for both sides.
A chess combination involves a sacrifice upsetting the balance of forces, but will it work or tragically boomerang? In Winning Chess Combinations the reader is invited to solve this question by identifying the advantages that a specific position holds which might make the combination successful.
In The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess Grandmaster John Emms reveals the secrets of how to maximise your potential and improve your results in competitive play.
Cyrus Lakdawala examines the popular Caro-Kann Defence, constructs an opening repertoire for Black and provides answers to all the key questions.
Grandmaster John Emms revisits the Nimzo-Indian, his favourite opening for over 30 years. He shares his experience and knowledge, and continually challenges the reader to answer probing questions, thereby encouraging the learning and practising of vital opening skills.
A comprehensive update on her popular 2007 book Play the Caro-Kann and focuses on key new developments since then.
Lakdawala examines Botvinnik's renowned skills in attack, defence, counter-attack, exploiting imbalances, accumulating advantages and his legendary endgame play.
The Sniper is a new dynamic weapon for Black against both 1 e4 and 1 d4. In this book Charlie Storey presents a repertoire for Black with his favourite opening.
This is an updated and largely expanded edition of the highly acclaimed Starting Out: The Sicilian. John Emms goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Sicilian and its many variations.
Do you like setting your opponent problems from the very first move? And are you happy to roll the dice and take some risks? Then enter the intriguing world of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit! This title takes a modern-day look at the gambit. It examines in detail the promising lines for White and the most resilient defences for Black.
A book for all enthusiastic adult players. Michael de la Maza reveals the secrets of a unique study plan which he used to transform his level of play in just a twelve month period.
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